J.P. Yadav in his element

By Vijay Lokapally

NAGPUR, JAN. 4. For Jai Prakash Yadav, there is little difference between a Deodhar and a Duleep Trophy match. His individual score of 158 on the opening day of the contest here reflected the frame of his mind as he launched an astonishing assault on the West Zone bowlers and placed Central in a firm position at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium here on Thursday.

At close, Central, electing to bat, had amassed 342 for three with Yadav looking very secure and Raja Ali with an unbeaten essay of 54 threatening to extend the opposition's misery on the morrow, not to forget the sound performance of Railway left- hander Amit Pagnis, who compiled an attractive 62.

West did nothing right. Its erratic bowlers were punished duly and the fielding standards left much to be desired.

On a pitch which slowed as the day progressed, the likes of Zaheer Khan and Iqbal Siddiqui sprayed the ball and failed to make any impression even as leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule adopted a negative line to check the smooth flow of runs.

With Baroda left- arm spinner Valmik Buch too erring in length, it was left to Hrishikesh Kanitkar and his steady off-spin to provide the breakthroughs.

The day belonged to Yadav, one of the most prolific run-maker in domestic cricket. His positive attitude, he will not hesitate to play a shot off the first ball he faces, was the strength on which he built his amazing charge this morning when he treated Zaheer and Siddiqui with disdain. The first session produced 166 runs in 39 overs and left West defending the rest of the afternoon.

Yadav may have offered a sharp chance early in his innings to Jacob Martin at first slip off Buch, but nothing was going to take away any credit from his brilliant innings. That was the closest West came to taking his wicket even though part- time offie Abhijit Kale induced an inside edge which flew close to the stumps. But Yadav shone all day and produced a stroke-full knock, which unfortunately, was not watched by any National selector.

The fact that he likes to play his shots makes Yadav quite an exciting batsman to watch. He is quick to position himself for a pull or a cut and he twice smacked Zaheer for lightening boundaries and was not averse to stepping out and smashing the spinners too. His range of shots was a challenge for West skipper Nayan Mongia to set a field and the poor bowling too added to the woes of the fielding side.

The blazing opening partnership, with Pagnis cracking the ball with effortless ease, was a treat. The left-hander picked the gaps with authority and delighted the sparse audience with his skillful shot-selection. He matched Yadav all the way but fell to an impetuous hook off a harmless ball. Pagnis' 91- ball innings contained ten fours.

The quick dismissal of Amay Khurasiya, bowled round the legs, was a blow since the conditions were ideal for a batsman of his style. But Mohammad Kaif, retired hurt from a stiff neck at 239, provided the support to Yadav, who gave the right direction to the Central expectations from him. In splendid form this season, Yadav batted with authority and scripted his dominating presence with a determination that makes one wonder how this dashing batsman has remained in the background when the likes of Devang Gandhi and Vijay Bharadwaj have found favour with the National selectors.

Yadav can bat with elan and chip in with the ball too, making this Bhopal cricketer a good option as an all-rounder for the shorter version of the game. His contribution today was awesome since West had four fielders stationed on the boundary and yet Yadav found his way to score briskly. In his 272-ball knock thus far, Yadav has struck 22 fours and a six. He lost Gagan Khoda cheaply, trapped leg-before with umpire V.N. Kulkarni quickly upholding the appeal, but Yadav had a sensible ally in Raja Ali, a steady batsman with a penchant for playing his shots.

The left-handed Ali, who also revels in strokes in front of the wicket, made the West bowlers work harder in the last session and his six fours and a six in a 93-ball unbeaten stay was an indication of the Railway batsman's comfort in the middle. West indeed have a long grind ahead.

lThe scores:

Central-1st innings: Jai Prakash Yadav (batting) 158, Amit Pagnis c Patel b Kanitkar 62, Amay Khurasiya b Kanitkar 1, Mohammad Kaif (retired hurt) 46, Gagan Khoda lbw b Zaheer 4, Raja Ali (batting) 54, Extras (lb-6, nb-11) 17, Total (for three wkts in 92 overs) 342.

Fall of wickets: 1-131, 2-134, 3-244.

West Zone bowling: Zaheer Khan 19-4-69- 1, Iqbal Siddiqui 17-6-72-0, Valmik Buch 19-0-74-0, Hrishikesh Kanitkar 13-0-70-2, Sairaj Bahutule 22-4-44-0, Abhijit Kale 2-0-7-0.

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